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Mash West Bureau
The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has been challenged to take its initiatives to the lower levels of society, including districts, wards and villages.

In a speech read on her behalf by the director in her office Mr Douglas Chiwiro during the launch of the provincial peace committee last week, Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka urged peace-builders to be equal to the task to foster healing, reconciliation, peace-building and conflict prevention.

She said the peace-builders should also be able to identify and deal with potential triggers of conflict in the community.

“In your work, kindly ensure that you include all groups of people in the province and that your programmes are informed by the input generated from the grassroots.

“I also wish to urge that this concept of peace committees cascade to the district, ward and village level so that all levels of our national structures are involved in the consummation of peace,” she said.

Provincial Peace Committee chairperson and NPRC Commissioner Choice Ndoro said the commission was a mechanism for resolving the burden of past violent conflicts while building national and sub-national capacities that guarantee a future of peace and reconciliation.

It is also mandated, she said to ensure post-conflict justice, healing and reconciliation by encouraging truth-telling, making amends, provision of justice and rehabilitative treatment.

The commission also seeks to conciliate and mediate disputes while putting in place institutional frameworks and mechanisms for preventing recurrence of violent conflicts.

“Zimbabwe is undergoing a critical political and economic development that has potential to transform the country towards sustainable development and improvement of citizens’ lives,” she said.

The Provincial Peace Committee led by Commissioner Ndoro as chairperson also agreed to select businessman Mr Godfrey Mavhankeni as deputy chairperson and will include Minister Mliswa-Chikoka, provincial administrator Mrs Cecilia Chitiyo and ZRP provincial commander Commissioner Priscilla Makotose.

The political parties — Zanu-PF and MDC Alliance — have representatives in the committee which also includes a representative from the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association and traditional leaders.

Also in the committee are Chief Chundu and Chief Ngezi with the former being the special advisor to Commissioner Ndoro as the NPRC seeks to find home-grown solutions to conflict resolutions.

Norton legislator Mr Themba Mliswa will represent the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Professor Maria Tsvere from Chinhoyi University of Technology for the academics while also represented in the committee are members of the civil society, the disabled, women and youth.

The Provincial Peace Committee will among its duties, promote peace within the province, create and facilitate space for dialogue between groups and communities including exchange of ideas on issues that may threaten peace and stability within communities.

It will also engage in confidence and trust building activities, promote tolerance building while providing strategic advice and early warning on potential threat to the peace and stability of communities.

The committee will engage in public education, sensitisation and awareness about conflict indicators and how to ameliorate then while facilitating organisation of activities that build friendships, promote trust and goodwill between communities in conflict.

It is expected to also organise training and other capacity building programmes to strengthen peace building, respond to identified issues within the province or any from the District Peace Committees.